Founded in 1929 with the educational mission of making contemporary art accessible to people of all ages and abilities, MoMA is known for its experimental approach to museum education. MoMA is also a global leader in accessibility and inclusion with its extensive, innovative educational formats for people with diverse needs, and it also shares its expertise with other museums through training courses and seminars.
As part of the museum tour MUSEUMS AND THE FUTURE in New York at the end of April, Francesca Rosenberg, Director of Community, Access and School Programs an impressive presentation. At the heart of the participatory approach of the "Access Programs" is the hypothesis that museums are not only subject to physical and perceptual barriers, but also, and above all, attitudinal barriers. "Individuals with disabilities often report that attitudes toward people with disabilities are the biggest barrier they face in society."
Another insight at MoMA means that inclusive educational offerings are not exclusive, but accessible to ALL visitors: “When you make museums accessible to people with disabilities you make them more accessible to everyone.”
Originally introduced in the 1940s as programs for military veterans, the Access Programs are now embedded in the philosophy and organization as a whole. Training for the organization's own staff therefore forms the basis for the ongoing development of these formats, which are developed across departments and in close collaboration with experts and stakeholders from the core target group. At the heart of this work are workshops on equality for people with disabilities, in which employees reflect on their own experiences and learn to recognize and change language, attitudes, and behaviors that negatively impact visitors with disabilities.
Francesca's team also evaluates the impact of the programs through surveys, interviews, and focus groups. A study was conducted in collaboration with New York University (NYU) to develop and evaluate the MoMA Alzheimer's Project.
The Access Programs distinguish between offerings for groups and those for individual visitors. Group offerings, which are attended by approximately 5,000 participants annually, range from touch tours, art making, ASL (American Sign Language) gallery talks, and community programs in partnership with hospitals, retirement homes, and others, to "social prescription programs." Art workshops are prescribed instead of medication. The "Prime Time" program is aimed at New Yorkers over 65 and is offered in partnership with organizations serving older people in New York City.
All offerings and formats are supported by technological aids (hearing aids, audio descriptions, QR codes, etc.), the Bloomberg Connects app, and a wealth of online tools and resources. Sensory kits are available at the reception desk. These are bags containing items that help calm overstimulating situations, such as noise-cancelling headphones, earplugs, and sunglasses. A printed social guide and a sensory orientation map are included.
In addition to the numerous online resources and information, MoMA also offers online training resources—for its own staff, as well as for other museums, to whom it is happy to share its experiences and knowledge. These include a dedicated website for the Alzheimer's Research Project and training videos that depict hypothetical situations in which people might encounter environmental and attitudinal barriers in a museum.
And last but not least, economic barriers are also removed: all programs and resources are free of charge.
Further information at MoMA Accessibility
With its comprehensive approach and offering, MoMA is also part of the Zero Project network and a Zero Project Awardee with Factsheet.